Community Outreach and STEM Education

Planetarium Shows

The Watson-King Planetarium, located in Smith Hall, room 521, is Towson University’s primary tool for public outreach in astronomy.

Established in 1965, the Watson-King Planetarium allows us to view the stars at any time of the day or night, in any weather. It has seating for 40 people under its 24 diameter dome. The stars and planets are displayed by a Spitz A3-P projector, and pictures and graphical information can be shown with an array of slide projectors, an overhead projector, and a computer projector.

On the third Friday of every month during the academic year, faculty members, students, or friends of the Towson University's Physics, Astronomy, and Geosciences Department give presentations in the Planetarium. Each show usually consists of a tour of the night sky along with a discussion of some topic in astronomy and is open to the public.

When weather permits, the planetarium shows are followed by telescope observing using our 14” diameter Ritchey-Chretien reflecting telescope as well as some of our portable 8” Celestron telescopes. A schedule shows can be found at

Additionally, the department faculty members give shows to individual school and scout groups on an ad hoc basis. We can accommodate groups of students in the campus planetarium, or we may schedule a visit to your school with our inflatable, portable planetarium. For more information, contact either: